So the debate is whether to keep Herb Williams on staff or to bring back Patrick Ewing. I would opt to bring back Pat for two reasons: first, it is beneficial to a team to keep its former stars in the building on game night. We cheer for Starks when he appears out of the offices. We love to see Oakley sitting in the stands. Some people can argue for Walt or Clyde, but for me, Patrick is the best Knick of all time (we will see what the future brings). So, just having him on the bench will give people more reason to cheer (or at least remember the better times).

Second, we haven't won very much since we traded him to Seattle. That was a bit of an insult that I was quite disappointed with. That trade spiraled into a cap problem that still effects this teams winning percentage. The story of brining back Pat could give the media something different to spin this offseason than being purely critical of the team as-built. It will give some positive storylines after a tough season. Change is good. But remembering and reviving an icon can give real charm to this re-build.

This is not intended as a slight to Herb Williams. He is a great person and I enjoyed his tenure in NY. Its just that we need a little starpower to deflect to criticism off the players. Herb flies under the radar.

DW...make it happen.

I agree we should bring back Ewing but I don't necessarily agree that Herb has been good for/with the Knicks. What have they achieved with him? Granted there have been many factors that have hurt his chances of successes and the overall dysfunctional environment - but seriously, Ewing has done some great things with Yao and Howard. I think they should get rid of Herb and clean house.

i'd agree and I love herb and respect him.

our biggest need is to rehabilitate Curry & Zach. who better to try than ewing.

maybe herb can move upstairs?

[Edited by - franco12 on 05-14-2008 7:30 PM]

Posted by GKFv2:

I don't want Ewing here to work with those wastes of space. I just want him here because it's the respect he deserves. Working with Curry and/or Randolph wont work because they aren't guys anyone could work with. Curry is a dumb, lazy player and always will be and Zach will always hoist his dumb shots and not even try at times. Ewing deserves to work with better.

I wouldn't go so far to call them wastes of space, but I support bringing back Ewing regardless of who the big men are... but a job is a job and you work with what you have. If anything, maybe Ewing can give these guys a sense of pride. Maybe seeing how the crowd responds to Ewing will inspire them to play. If not, clean house.

From everything I have seen and read, Ewing is a good assistant coach. Herb has been 6 years and to me is a waste of an assistant coach. It has more with him sucking up and surviving than him actually being a good coach. Hopefully Larry Brown calls him to join him in Charlotte. Ewing would be a perfect replacement. He certainly has earned that right over Herb Williams.

Posted by martin:

I never understood the idea of bringing icon players back as assistants cause they "deserve" to be back. If they are good assistant coaches and teachers, they will earn the right to be back on the bench.

I understand the statement, but in terms of business and basketball it makes sense to find positions for icon players whether in the front office or on the bench. The fact that Ewing appears quite functional on the bench makes it a optimal spot because the fans can see him and remember when things were good. Nostalgia. Now, if he isn't a good coach, don't put him on the bench just cause he was a good player. But, to be an assistant coach, I don't think he needs to be the best available assistant coach. I think he gets a boost from being a NY icon. And, as pointed out above, he seems to have done well in Houston and Orlando.

hey i would have absolutely no problem w/it... i would welcome some of the old Knicks back to teach these guys some damn pride for a change... i'm just saying it's not as much of a great fit w/D'Antoni's probable plans than it was if say Mark Jackson or Avery Johnson woulda been hired.

I don't care one way or another whether a coaching candidate was a Knick legend. I want our coach to pick the best possible assistants - the ones who will help him the most. That's the only criteria.

Posted by EwingsGlass:

So the debate is whether to keep Herb Williams on staff or to bring back Patrick Ewing. I would opt to bring back Pat for two reasons: first, it is beneficial to a team to keep its former stars in the building on game night. We cheer for Starks when he appears out of the offices. We love to see Oakley sitting in the stands. Some people can argue for Walt or Clyde, but for me, Patrick is the best Knick of all time (we will see what the future brings). So, just having him on the bench will give people more reason to cheer (or at least remember the better times).

Second, we haven't won very much since we traded him to Seattle. That was a bit of an insult that I was quite disappointed with. That trade spiraled into a cap problem that still effects this teams winning percentage. The story of brining back Pat could give the media something different to spin this offseason than being purely critical of the team as-built. It will give some positive storylines after a tough season. Change is good. But remembering and reviving an icon can give real charm to this re-build.

This is not intended as a slight to Herb Williams. He is a great person and I enjoyed his tenure in NY. Its just that we need a little starpower to deflect to criticism off the players. Herb flies under the radar.

DW...make it happen.

Why would we cheer starks? He sucked! And by all means, kick Herb out of the building. Since D'Antoni's forte is offense, I wouldn't mind at all now if Ewing came back to act as a defensive coach for the big guys.

I'm not for bringing guys in just because they stared for us at one time or because they are from NY. If' they are good at what they do, then either one of those is a big plus. That's when it counts the most.

Posted by GKFv2:

From everything I have seen and read, Ewing is a good assistant coach. Herb has been 6 years and to me is a waste of an assistant coach. It has more with him sucking up and surviving than him actually being a good coach. Hopefully Larry Brown calls him to join him in Charlotte. Ewing would be a perfect replacement. He certainly has earned that right over Herb Williams.

Just because we have sucked the past 7 years doesnt mean Herb is a bad coach, so by your theory you would also be implying that Larry Brown is a bad coach because he had one of the worst coaching records in franchsie history